Improvement in manure-brags



ATo a-Zl whom it 'may concern.-

actuated (Staten ABRAHAM SHOCK AND HARRISON ROCK SHIRK, OF, LAN

TER, PENNSYLVANIA.

@anni newline.

Letters Patent No. 95,523, dated October 5, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN l,NIA1\`|"|IJ"REiDRAG-S.

The Schedule referred to in' these Letters P atent and making part of the same.

Be it known that we, ABRAHAM H. SHOCK and HARRISON RocK SHIRK, of the county of Lancaster, and State o'f Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements on Manure-Drags; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and `enact description of the construction and operation of the saine, 4reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making apart of this speciiication,

Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of the machine, with the hooks ready for use.

Figure 3,po1tion of the-same,'to show the hook when turned over, to disengage the load.

Figure 4 is a plan View.

Figure 5, detached portions.

The nature of our invention consists in the construction of the hooks, their arrangement, and the central combinationwith the lever, greatly simplifying and improving the hook patented J ly 9, 1867, (No. 66,525,) now ,jointly held by us. v

'lo enable others skilled in the art to make and use oulyinvention, it is only necessary to refer to the drawings.

Fig. 4 shows a centralhook, H2, with a projecting head, h, round v above, and 'hollwed out, with a side iange, f, Iig. 5, beneath, which rests against the under side of the parted centre beam A, and prevents the end from turning up -lhis centre 4beam shows an open slot, a, with parallel sides, for the reception of the endlotl the lever L, tl1e wedge-point, I, of which locks against the nnder side of said beam, and is held rmly, while on the rear end it (the lever L) is vprovided with a rounded heel, fitting the rounded portion f of the head hot' the central hook H2.

'llle side hooks l and 3 are cach iorgcd out of a single pieceA of iron, bent inward, and then forward, at right angles, Aso as to tit up centrally against the sides of the prolongation ofthe central hook H2, to which the hooks l 3, so formed, are fastened, by. rivets or headed screw-bolts, as shown by iig; 4.

The centre beam A with its hitching-ring B in front, is parted, and forms the two side bearings.

A headed rod, R, and screw-end for a bulr, pass Y through the' said bearings, hooks l, 2, and 3, and also the supporting-straps S, which are connected with the handles D as shown.

These handles are also fastened, by a headed bolt,

to the centre beam, in front.

The operation is easily understood. The three hooks 1 2 3, or tines, are curved, so that they maintain or support the machine in a proper position for entering the manure, and, by elevating or depressing the handles, they will slide over the ground, and yet eectnally grasp the manure, and retain it, much better than when not curved in such a way.

` When but slightly ciuved, we iind them apt to `catch at every inequality, such as a door-sill, or to within the slot of the centre beam, will turn so asto throw the wedge or toe l down, and the heel upward, and disengage itself from the curve in the head It ot' the central hook H2, which can only turn downward,

and revolve the three united hooks jl, 2, and 3 on the rod R, until their position is reversed, as shown by.

iig. 3, and it will readily discharge itself, and in that position can be drawn back for a fresh load, and easily put into position for grasping.

The compact form adapts it peculiarly for entering stalls, or into the corners, and in various respects facilitates the various uses.

The peculiar form of the `ange f, to lock against the under side ot' the centre beam, and the wedgeshaped toe lof the lever, bracing also against said central `beam, constitute peculiar functions in the mode of 'supporting the pressure and strain upon the h ook, relieving that on .the fulcrum of thennited tines, while the rounded heel ot the footed lever performs its office beautifully, in coml'iination with the rounded terminus of the head.

We are perfectly aware that a diversity of combinations are employed, and that at iii-st sight our present arrangement hasl much the appearance of our patent of July 9, 1867; butit changes its entire character when duly considered, and can be made much cheaper, more durable, and eiciehtin its operation, and is a decided improvement. 'We do not claim acentralrunner, with a revolving hook-shaft; Y nor do we. use a spring-bolt, operated by a lever,

That we claim as our invention, and desire to .se-

cure by Letters Patent,'is-

cAs-

TheA

i. The construction and arrangement of the hooks 1, 2, and 3, in combination with tbe central beam A and brace or fulcrum R, operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

2. 1n combination with the central hook H2, with its head h and flange f, also the lever L, with its foot or toe l, and roundcd heel, when constructed and operating in the manner jointly and for the purpose set forth. Y

3. The mode of constructing the handle-supports s s, so that their lower ends come in Contact with the sides of the hooks 1, 2, and 3, as side bearings, in combination with the brace or fulcrnm-rod R, made and applied in the manner and for the purpose shown and described.

A. H. SHOCK. H. ROCK SHIRK.

Witnesses:

NVM. B. WILEY, JACOB STAUFFER. 

